MAHONING VALLEY Dominion, Columbia Gas to lower rates until Feb.

Wholesale prices for natural has have risen 50 percent since last winter.
Natural gas companies serving the Mahoning Valley intend to lower rates for November through January.
Dominion East Ohio Gas and Columbia Gas of Ohio filed rate requests Tuesday with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. Though the new rates would be lower than current rates, they would be higher than customers paid at the start of last winter.
Dominion is seeking a rate of $8 per thousand cubic feet, compared with the current rate of $8.58. At the start of last winter, Dominion customers were paying $5.03.
Columbia is requesting a new rate of $6.90 per thousand cubic feet, compared with a current rate of $7.23. At the start of last winter, Columbia customers were paying $6.54.
These rates are paid by customers who have not elected to be in the companies' customer choice programs. Rates offered by other suppliers are available on the PUCO's Apples to Apples chart, which is available by calling (800) 299-7271 or its Web site at www.puc.state.oh.us.
Wholesale prices up
Dominion said wholesale prices for natural gas are 50 percent higher than they were a year ago and are expected to remain high.
Prices could increase dramatically if this winter is colder than normal, the company said.
A cold winter last year caused supplies to be depleted, Dominion said. Prices rose later in the year as companies replenished their storage supplies and production declined.
The company said production is increasing, but the market will not be affected by increased supplies until sometime next year.